Machine for folding paper.



No. 836,235. PATENTBD NOV. 20, 1906.

J. H. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING PAPER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 14,1906.

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J. H. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN H. ADAMS,- OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FoR FOLDING PAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed-May 14, 1906. Serial No. 316.666.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be-it known that I, JOHN H. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Machine for Folding Paper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for folding aper, and more particularly to machines for olding sheets of paper'such as letters, circulars, and other sheets of paperwhether containing written or printed matter or not.

The object of this invention is to produce a machine of the character referred to containing mechanism operable to receive separate sheets of paper, and if such sheetsbe of full-size letter-paper first to fold the same transversely across the center of the sheets and then to fold the sides over upon the middle portion, all the folding mechanism acting automatically when in operation to produce the necessary folds. The mechanism is adjustable for folding sheets of the half or twothirds size or other sizes, as desired, and is operable at a high rate of speed, such improvements and functions being further objects of attainment by this invention.

Referring to the accompan ing drawings, which form part of this speci 'cation, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a sheet of paper, showing the foldline made across afull-size letter-sheet. Fig. 3 shows the fold-lines for the sides, and Fig. 4 shows the sheet with all folds as completed by the machine. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical lon itudinal sectional view taken approximate y along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating the devices which actuate the part that produces the first transverse fold on the sheet. Fig. 8 is another view of the same devices, showing them in the act of becoming disengaged from each other.

The frames 1 carry a platform 2, having a guide-plate 3 at one side to assist in arranging the paper straight prior to bein started through the machine. A hinged ta ie-wing 4 may be connected to one side of the platform 2 to hold a quantity of sheets of paper in convenient position for the operator, a brace 5 serving to hold the same in horizon tal position. Two rollers 7 are arranged, in this instance in the same horizontal plane, in suitable relation to a third roller 8, and a broad belt 9 passes around said rollers and is kept at proper tensionby some convenient ers may be used.

devices, such as an adjustable idle roller 10. One of the rollers 7 is power-driven; but the driving mechanismforms no part of my present invention and is not illustrated. Any of the known connections for rotating said rollthe rollers 7 at each side of the belt 9 to assist in carrying the paper straight to the folding devices. A gear-wheel 12 on one of the rollers 7 meshes with a gear 13 on the shaft of an adjacent roller 14, the latter operating close to or against the belts passing around said roller 7. Between the rollers 7 a num ber of rollers 15 are arranged to act in cooperation with the belts 9 and 11 to direct and move the paper toward the foldin devices.

The paper is laid upon the plat orm 2 and started upon the .belts 9 and 11 toward the rollers 7 14. Assuming that full-size sheets of paper are being folded, the front ends of the s eets pass over the roller 14 and are kept moving in that direction until the edges strike the side of a plate 16, which is pivotally suspended from two arms 17. The arms 17 are connected to a plate 18, which is pivoted to two standards 19. The plate 18 extends over the roller 14 and has an edge 20 parallel with and pointing tan entially to the rollers 7 and 14 and which w en lowered bends and causes the paper overlying said rollers to be drawn between the rollers, thereby making a fold along the line where the said edge 20 contacted with the paper.

When the edge of a moving sheet of paper strikes the pivoted plate 16, it swings said plate outward. Beyond the plate 16 a shaft 21 is journaled and is driven in this instance A belt 11 passes around.

by a belt 22, passing around a pulley 23 on said shaft and around another pulley 24 on one of the shafts 7. The adjustment is such that the shaft 21 will be rotated very rapidly. A' toothed wheel 25 is attached to said shaft 21, and adjacent thereto on the plate 16 a lug or projection 26 is afiixed. A cam-block 27 is also fastened on the plate 16, said block being comparatively thin at its upper end, but at its lower end projecting a considerable distance from the plate. The weight of the plate 16 and the parts carried thereby while not great is sufficient to uphold the edge 20 of the plate 18, so that the sheets of paper may freely pass under said plate.

When the edge of the paper comes against the plate 16, the latter is swung outward and the rapidly-rotating wheel 25 engages the lug or projection 26 and immediately throws belt 9.

down the edge of the late 18 against the upper side of the sheet 0 paper, which binds Thereupon the plate 16 automatically lowers itself to its former position.

The paper having been thus folded transversel it is drawn beyond the rollers'7 and 14, being guidedby the carrier-belt 9. A series of rollers 29 sustain the pressure on the belt between the rollers 7 14 and the roller 8, the upper one of said rollers 29 having a flange 30 at each side of the belt to break the fibers of the paper for the folds along the lines 31, Fig. 3.- A series of longitudinallygrooved rollers 3.2 act in connection with the rollers 29 to force the paper forward on the Aguide-plate 33 is supported below the rollers 7 and 14, the aper passing between the same and the be t 9 after it leaves said rollers.

The tension of the guideplate upon the paper ma be increased or reduced by a spring-an -screw device 34, arranged in convenient position for adjustment. After the sides of the paper have been bent outward and the fibers broken by the flanges 30 the paper is carried between two flaring wings 34", which bend the two sides of the paper over upon the middle portion, thereby completing the folds along the lines 31, formed as above described. The lower ends of the wings 34 are very close to the belt 9, so that the sides of the paper will be folded close against the middle portion. For each of the wings 34 there is an inner wing 35, having smooth surfaces and upon which the paper is folded to prevent buckling, and the arrangement of the wings is such that one side of the paper will always be folded upon the other si e'without interference during the passage under the wings. 'This is accomplished by extending one of the outer wings 34 under the opposite inner wing 35. After passing from the side folding devices the paper passes under a compression-roller 36, and thence down an inclined discharge portion of the 'belt to any suitable receptacle, such as 37.

The folded paper is discharged endwise in the receptacle 37 in such position that the discharged sections will form no obstruction to those following, so that all the sections will remain perfectly smooth and evenly folded.

When half-size sheets are to be folded, no transverse folds, such as 28, are required, and

it is necessary only to fold over the sides along lines such as 31. These folds are made entirely by that mechanism beyond the rollers 7 and 14, and no fold-line is made on such half-size sheets b the edge 20 of the plate 18. To accomplish this side folding, it is necessary only to direct the paper between the said rollers 7 and 14, beyond which the sides will be automatically folded over, as in the side folding of full-size sheets. Forthus directing the paper the end of the plate 18 has a curved portion 38, which if the end of said plate be held down near the rollers 7 and 14 will deflect the edges of the sheets of paper between the rollers. For such purpose a knob 39 is adjustably mounted on a post 40, extending through a hole in a projecting portion of the plate 18, so that hy-moving the knob downward on'the post the curved portion 38 will be moved and held in proper position to deflect the paper between the rollers 7 and 14, as described. The belt 22' may be taken off when the machine is used for these purposes, as there is no need for rotation o the shaft 21.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that the machine is capable of use by proper adjustment for folding sheets of paper of all i'ntermediate sizes and is not restricted in its use to folding the specific sizes herein referred to.

It is clear also that variations in the construction, arrangement, and operation of the parts from that herein described may be made within equivalent limits without departing from the spirit and scope of my in-x vention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a machine for folding sheets'of paper, the combination of mechanism for folding the sheets transversely, mechanism operable to fold the paper in two places after it has been folded transversely, and means to adjust the transverse folding mechanism effectively to guide sheets of paper to said lastnamed mechanism without folding said sheets transversely, substantially as described,

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carrier-belt, two rollers operating close together, mechanism for folding a sheet of paper transversely and causing it to pass between said rollers on the carrierbelt, mechanism for folding the paper in two places after it passes the said two rollers, and means to adjust the transverse folding mechanism to guide sheets of paper to said lastnamed mechanism without folding said 1siheets transversely, substantially as speci- 3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of two rollers operating close together, devices for folding a full-size letter-sheet of paper transversely and causing it to pass between said rollers, means for adjusting said transverse folding devices to uide sheets of paper between said rollers without folding, and means to fold the paper in two places after it passes said rollers. substantially as specified.

4. In a machine of the character'described, the combination of a carrier-belt, two rollers operating close together, devices cooperating with said rollers to fold a sheet of paper transversely and cause it to pass between said rollers on the carrier-belt, mean for adjusting said transverse folding devices to guide sheets of paper between said rollers without folding, means for folding one side of a sheet over upon the middle portion after passing the rollers, and means for folding the other side of the sheet over upon the firstnamed side, substantially as specified.

5. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of two rollers, a hinged platehaving a curved portion 38, means to adjust said curved portion adjacent to the rollers, means to carry paper against said curved portion and between the rollers, and means for folding the two sides of the paper over u on a middle portion, substantially as spec' ed.

6. In a paper-folding machine," the combi nation of folding mechanism, actuating means therefor, means for causing the paper to be folded to throw said actuating means into operation, means for folding the paper after it has been folded by the first-named folding mechanism, and means for adjusting the first-named folding mechanism to let the paper pass without folding, substantially as specified.

7. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of folding mechanism, actuating means therefor, means for causing the paper to be folded to throw said actuating means into operation to fold the paper transversely, a carrier, a guide-plate, means for causing the paper to pass between said carrier and said guide-plate after it has been folded transversely, and means for folding the sides of the paper while passing between the cargier and guide-plate, substantially as speci- 8. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of folding mechanism, actuating means therefor, means for causing the paper to be folded to throw said actuatin means into operation, and means for hol ing the foldin mechanism to guide the paper thereby Wit out folding substantially as specified.

9. In a paper folding machine, folding mechanism, actuating means therefor, means for causing the paper to be folded to throw the said actuating means into operation, means for holding the foldin mechanism to guide the paper thereby without folding it, an adjustable guide-plate, and means for folding the paper against the edges of said guide-plate, substantially as specified.

10. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of I folding mechanism, actuating means therefor, means for causing the paper to be folded to throw said actuating means into operation, a series of folding-wings, and means for causing the paper to pass between said folding-wings after it has passed the aforesaid folding mechanism, substantially as specified.

11. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with folding mechanism, and actuating means therefor, of means for causing the paper to be folded to throw said actuating means into operation, means for adjusting said folding mechanism to let the paper pass Without folding it, a series of fiarmg wings, and means for causing the paper to pass between said wings after it has passed the aforesaid folding mechanism, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN- H. ADAMS. [L. s.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. MOCASLIN, J. D. RIPPEY. 

